welding / fab table ?

[sweetk30]

i have read a lot here and just have a question for others who have done it .

i have a chance to get a 8ft x 12ft 1" thick sheet of A36 plate for a smoking deal . . .

i was thinking cut it to qty 4 table slabs of 4ft x 6ft . thats 980lbs just for the top .

any reason i should NOT buy this and do it ? i want 1 and 2 other friends want 1 . then i could sell the 4th one to make a good few bucks .

i know 1" thick is overkill but why not

i have the ability to move it / cut it / and fab it .

thanks for the help guys as always .

 

[plinker]

If you can move it without much trouble and the floor can handle it, Why not?
Sounds like it'd work great.

 

[tarbellb]

Buy, build, sell the extras.

 

[LXCam]

I'd do that in a heartbeat.

 

[Bellaireroad]

Is this a real question?


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[dr_clyde]

I probably would do it as well, but I have a few questions.

When you say a good deal, what are we talking here? With steel prices where they are right now, I'd be happy to pay what steel was 6 months ago.

Also, what are you planning to use to cut this thing up? Do you have a line burner or something? That's a lot of cutting to keep straight with a hand torch...

 

[sweetk30]

before i pull the trigger i will post up price point .

i priced a 4ft x 10ft sheet from a friend at a local shop with his wholesale price it was 1300.00 brand new .

i can get this sheet of 8ft x 12ft for half or less than the price of the one my buddy quoted me . and if it makes a difference the factory info is still on the ends of the sheet . A36 / #### / ##### stuff . just a bit of surface rust is all from what i can tell.

i have a plasma cutter that will do 1 1/8" thickness . . . its a hypertherm xp45 . . . unless you think i should not do this big a cut with that unit ? ? ? worst case there is a few BIG fab shops in town i could get this cut down at depending on price .

glad you asked these questions as i dont want to get in over my head on this one . . . the weight alone can do damage ! !

 

[LXCam]

I doubt your XP has the duty cycle to cut that nicely in those sizes. It might cut 1-1/8" but you need to look at how many inches per minute it can do that and calculate what you're looking at for cut / downtime. Also have you cut that thick a material yet with it? I used mine on a 3/4" piece that was 38" long a couple weeks ago and she was getting tired about half way thru plus the cut was not all that great (but that's probably more so me then it is the torch). If you're going to do this I'd talk to someone with a water or laser and see what they would charge.

 

[sweetk30]

I doubt your XP has the duty cycle to cut that nicely in those sizes. It might cut 1-1/8" but you need to look at how many inches per minute it can do that and calculate what you're looking at for cut / downtime. Also have you cut that thick a material yet with it? I used mine on a 3/4" piece that was 38" long a couple weeks ago and she was getting tired about half way thru plus the cut was not all that great (but that's probably more so me then it is the torch). If you're going to do this I'd talk to someone with a water or laser and see what they would charge.

thats what i am thinking my self just have a BIG shop do the cuts . it would be time and money ahead in the end .

 

[dr_clyde]

You'll be happier if you get someone with a burn table or waterjet to cut the blanks. Yes you probably could do it at home. But I wouldn't.

Your plasma is too small for this job. That's a ton of cutting. I've cut a 5'x4' table blank from a massive plate at least 1-1/8 thick with a hand torch and it was a chore.

If you decide to DIY cut this, use oxyacetylene instead of your plasma. It will be a nicer cut.

 

[sweetk30]

BIG local shop today said no problem with that size and weight sheet .

they get 65.00 per hr cut time on the water jet and cnc plasma . figures 4-5 hr time to gut the sheet in to 4 sections .

i dont think thats to bad and 1 week turn around time they say .

i did get 3 of the sections spoken for already and the 4th is mine . so i just need to go grab the plate i guess.

 

[dr_clyde]

Good deal. I think you'll be much happier than trying that with your plasma at home.

 

[tarbellb]

Totally worth $200 +/-. Cut will be better, dragging it around, burning up consumables, overworking the plasma, etc....

Now you need to post pics of the process and final build.

 

[jonesg]

Is this a real question?


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No its called approval seeking.

 

[yaidunno]

If desired, have the guys with the burn table program in a 1-2" radius on the corners. Its both aesthetically pleasing, and easier on the hips/groin if you run into the corner.

 

[dr_clyde]

If desired, have the guys with the burn table program in a 1-2" radius on the corners. Its both aesthetically pleasing, and easier on the hips/groin if you run into the corner.

Yes, do this. I did it on my second fab table and not my first. After a nice purple bruise on my hip I said never again to square corners.

 

[sweetk30]

If desired, have the guys with the burn table program in a 1-2" radius on the corners. Its both aesthetically pleasing, and easier on the hips/groin if you run into the corner.

yep great idea . . . just have to clear it with the guys who are going in on this with me.

 

[sweetk30]

so i stopped in today . . lets just say i need to re-do my math . . .

thats a 8ft x 20ft sheet of 1inch . i dont know how i missed that . . .

so i guess i am buying a lot more than i planned on but no big deal .

 

[dr_clyde]

Gosh if you lived closer I'd buy a chunk.

 

[L.Cheapo]

so i stopped in today . . lets just say i need to re-do my math . . .

thats a 8ft x 20ft sheet of 1inch . i dont know how i missed that . . .

so i guess i am buying a lot more than i planned on but no big deal .

Thats over 6500lbs of steel.

 

[plinker]

Maybe the place that does the cutting would be interested in some or have a market for the extra.

 

[sweetk30]

Maybe the place that does the cutting would be interested in some or have a market for the extra.

all the shops now have to have prof of origin paper work on stuff for legal reasons if there is ever a problem . thats prob why this got scrapped as the paper work was lost or somthing like that .

even tho it still has the paint pen make on the end with A36 / xxxxxxx so you know what it is .

and for this use who needs prof of origin . . . .

 

[Lelandwelds]

I am jealous. You better do it pronto.

I have never had radius corners. Sounds nice. Please use a nice, heavy apron about six inches from the perimeter. Plate on the bottom of the legs can save some wear and tear on your concrete.

 

[Strouty]

If I was in your shoes, I would have an 8' by 20' table.

 

[sweetk30]

8ft x 20 ft table would be a full size truck in my shop . . . and i already have 2 of them in the shop now . . . doooo

today i went and got the 8ft x 20ft sheet . it had a sticker still on it made in brazil and A360 in paint pen on the end .

6620 lbs on the scale was the empty to loaded difference . . just under 1700.00 bucks with tax .

went 3 blocks and set it down and slid out from under it and showed them how i want it cut up WITH radius on corners for all . and call me when the cut plan is ready before cutting to stop and verify its the way i want it .

they will have to cut the 20ft plate down to fit the table as its only a 12ft table . so 1 pair of the 4ft x 6ft slabs will be a hair short . but i dont think anyone will mind .

 

[Strouty]

8ft x 20 ft table would be a full size truck in my shop . . . and i already have 2 of them in the shop now . . . doooo

I have a 4' by 10' and wish it was at least 5' by 10'. Then other times, I wish it was not in my shop.

 

[sweetk30]

i currently have a 4ft 6" x 8ft table in the place this 4ft x 8ft new table will go . and for me the 6" loss will be o.k. in a few ways .

but i do tend to go on the massive side as well for things .

the 6" loss free's up floor walk way / center work bay room . and then i can reach the other side of the table with 6" less stick out .

my problem is to much shelf / bench storage = SH!T collector's . . . time to clean .

my best work bench hands down is my southworth hydo lift table like you find in big factory's or shipping docks of huge plants . 4ft x 5ft 6in . lifts 2000 lbs and goes 3" off floor to around 48" up . drop and store as not needed and roll out and use as needed .

 

[Strouty]

That sounds like a nice table. I just use my forklift to move mine out of the way.

 

[sweetk30]

i have 2 4k lb engine hoists . pick 1 and move stuff .

 

[sweetk30]

few pics for you guys to droollllll over

got 2 4ft x 8ft
then 2 4ft x 6ft
then 2 4ft x 5ft10"

not to bad i dont think . they cnc plasma cut them . radius-ed the corners and made sure all edges were square . come out way better than i was thinking it would .

1st pic you should of seen that 8ft x 20ft sheet flop when he wiggled the boom moving it . . . crazy it flexed that much .

my friends JCB backhoe helped me a lot on the unload job .

 

[dr_clyde]

Those came out nice.

 

[LXCam]

Damn those are cool, I'd luv to have one. My welding table was a slab of 3'w x 10' x 1/2 stainless that was laying out in a equipment field for years. Various odd cuts had been hacked off one edge and it had about a 1/2" of warp from being run over probably a million times. I built the frame from hell out of 5" x 5" x 3/8" and 3" x 4" x 3/8" tubing and bolted it down getting it to lay flat which was difficult to say the least. Then burned up a dozen cut off blades squaring up the bad edge. But I ended up with it being 7' in length and I dint spend any real money building it as all the framing was scrap too.

Make sure you keep us updated on your build

 

[4 FN 27]

few pics for you guys to droollllll over

Inspiration!!! I think I found a new project...

Nice!!!

 

[sweetk30]

ordered my 24ft length stick of 3x3x1/4 wall square tube for legs on my 4x8 table . i plan on 6 legs for this one .

also a 20ft length of 5" wide plate for the leg feet and tops . the legs will be bolted to the main plate .

then a legth of 2x2x3/16 angle to link the legs together and make a shelf on the bottom side .

 

[sweetk30]

thinking a frame like this one to hold it . and these legs in the pics are 6"x6"

was thinking 3x3 tube for legs . bu i took a few scraps i had out and set on the plate and it looks funny / small thinking i should just jump up to the 4x4 for the legs .

then should i do 6 legs total or just 4 legs ?

if i tie the legs together with tube like these pics have could i just do 2x2 tube ?

was thinking 36" work surface height for good all around table .

thanks for any more input guys .

 

[plinker]

I would use four legs myself, steel angle would likely work about as well as tube for tieing the legs together.

If you add a shelving of sorts about halfway up the leg height you could use that for steel storage or something as well. A place I worked at had a bench set up that way, but it can be a collection point too.

 

[LXCam]

Go big or go home. I wouldn't suggest 6 legs though, but that's just me. That table right there is less then a 1/16" out in any direction. One of these days I'll get around to finishing it up, wouldn't wanna rush into anything ya know.

 

[sweetk30]

been a long time but i got a SOLID felling this thread is getting finished up over this winter . . . . open the pop corn and sit back .

 

[lis2323]

thinking a frame like this one to hold it . and these legs in the pics are 6"x6"

was thinking 3x3 tube for legs . bu i took a few scraps i had out and set on the plate and it looks funny / small thinking i should just jump up to the 4x4 for the legs .

then should i do 6 legs total or just 4 legs ?

if i tie the legs together with tube like these pics have could i just do 2x2 tube ?

was thinking 36" work surface height for good all around table .

thanks for any more input guys .

Okay I'll help with the revival too.

Since the pic with 6"'legs are not the OPs....

I like "big is better " but in this case 3"or 4" legs would have been way more proportionate and cosmetically appealing.


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[GeoBruin]

Fab table is my winter project so I'm happy to revive an old thread on the topic for inspiration.